Detonable explosive



Gd. 1'7, 1%39. L, A, SHERMAN 2,176,362

DETONABLE EXPLOS IVE Filed March 6, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENT OR.J0me A. Sher/72am ATTORNEY. l

Get.

L. A. SHERMAN DETONABLE EXPLOS IVE Filed March 6, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

Lam? 57267772411,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES DETONABLE EXPLOSIVE Louie A.Sherman, Florissant, Mo., assignor to Safetee Torpedo Corporation, St.Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application March 6,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in detonableexplosives, such, for instance, as railway track torpedoes and the like,and to the method of making the same.

My invention has for its primary object the provision, as a new articleof manufacture, of a detonable explosive, such as a track torpedo or thelike, which is compact, which may be safely handled and transported,which is simple and economical in structure, which is convenientlyusable, and which is exceedingly efiicient in the performance of itsintended functions.

My invention also has for an object the provision of a simple, unique,efficient, speedy, and economical method, avoiding any appreciable wasteof either time or materials, of constructing and manufacturing detonableexplosives of the type stated.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides inthe novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combinationof the several parts of the explosive and in the method of manufacturingthe same, all as presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (2 sheets) Figure 1 is a perspective viewof a detonating explosive in the form of a track torpedo constructed inaccordance with and embodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the torpedo, takenapproximately along the line 2-2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the torpedo, takenapproximately along the line 3-3, Figure 2;

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective plan and inverted plan views of theexplosive filler of the torpedo; and

Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, and are perspective views illustrating thesuccessive steps or intermediate stages in the production andmanufacture of the torpedo to its final or commercial form shown inFigures 1, 2, and 3.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to thedrawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my presentinvention, A designates the body of the torpedo, which includes adetonative member or filler I in the form of a cake or tablet preferablyhaving the contour of an axial segment of a cylinder, the filler Ihaving a flat bottom face or base a, an arcuate upper or top face 1)meeting the base a in well-defined rather sharp side edges or margins c,c, and opposite upstanding flat end walls d; and it may be here statedthat, while the solid filler or cake 1937, Serial No. 129,292

I may be compounded or constructed in accordance with any standardchemical formula, it is preferably compounded or constructed in a mannermore particularly disclosed in, and forming the subject-matter of,Letters Patent No. 2,061,- F

854, issued to me on November 24, 1936.

In the production of the torpedo, the filler or cake I is first suitablyformed'or molded in preferably the cylindro-segr'nental shape mentionedand, as so formed or molded, is provided centrally of its flat bottomface I) with an axially extending recess or channel 2.

The channeled filler I is then placed or disposed centrally and fiatwiseupon a wrapper-section or piece of suitable paper, fabric, or the like 3with its end-walls d presented toward the opposite wrapper-side-margin 3The covering or wrapper 3 is then folded longitudinally, as it may besaid, snugly and tightly about the filler I in the manner shown inFigure 6, the covering 3 upon its inner face 9 being coated with a filmof adhesive moistened preferably with an aqueous solution of Formalin.In such folding or wrapping operation, the wrapper-side-margins 3 arefolded down and inwardly at-the corners of the filler I, as at 3*,substantially as shown'in Figure'l, and the tab-ends h, thus formed, areturned under, as best seen in Figure 8, so as to form a completeenclosure or casing precisely conforming to the surface contour of thefiller I, the formalindampened film of glue, in drying, forming awaterproof bond between the covering 3 and the filler l and alsosecurely retaining the covering 3 in place.

A suitably elongated flexible metallic mounting strap B formedpreferably of a soft malleable low melting point material, such as lead,is then, for purposes presently appearing, inserted to extendintermediate its ends longitudinally within and through the axial recessor channel 2, and a second covering 4 of also suitable flexiblematerial, preferably similar to that of the covering 3, is tightlywrapped oppositely or transversely, as it may be said, about the entirestructure in the manner shown in Figures 9 and 10 and secured by meansof a film of glue or other suitable adhesive likewise moistened with anaqueous solution of Formalin, for the purposes and in the mannerdescribed previously in connection with the initial covering 3. I

The second covering sheet or layer 4 is preferably slightly wider thanthe axial length of the filler I and its opposite side marginsintermediate its ends are crlmped around the margins of the arcuate topface 21 of the filler I to fiangewise extend downwardly, as at 4', uponthe filler endwalls d, while the overlapping opposite side margins ofits end-portions 4 4 extend outwardly beyond the end margins of thebottom flat face a of the filler I in the formation of outwardlyprojecting marginal flanges f, f, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2, thesecond covering 4 functioning also in securely retaining the mountingstrap B in united operative relation to the wrapped filler I.

The so encased or double-wrapped tablet orv filler l is then providedwith an exterior allenveloping coating 6 preferably of nitro-celluloselacquer, waterproof varnish, or the like, and preferably prior tocomplete drying of the coating 6, sand or other suitable abrasivematerial is dusted over the under face of the wrapped filler l toprovide a non-slip abutment surface e, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2.

In use, the torpedo may be placed, for instance, upon the upper face ofthe ball of a railway track with its abrasive coated face e presenteddownwardly for track-surface engagement and extending transversely tothe lengthwise extent of the. rails, so that the upwardly presentedarcuate face of the torpedo will form a smoothly integrated raisedcontinuation of the traction surface of the rail. The ends of themounting strap B extending on either side of the body A may then bereadily bent downwardly in clipwise fashion around the ball of the railfor holding the torpedo securely in explodable position. When alocomotive or other vehicle passes over the so positioned torpedo, thepressure exerted thereupon will detonate the filler l, producing a loudexplosive report, serving as a signal to the train-crew for suchpurposes as are commonly familiar to railroad trainmen. When the filleris detonated, the explosive discharge will momentarily generate anintense amount of heat, which will immediately melt the portion of themounting strap B enclosed within the channel 2, thus rupturing themounting strap B and freeing the entire torpedo structure from the rail,so that the explosive force of the discharge may hurl thefragmentaryremnants of the torpedo clear of the track, thereby preventing anydamage to the traction surface of the rail, 7

Thus it will be evident that, by the present invention, I have provideda compact detonable explosive, which is securely and rigidly enclosedwithin a convenient, inexpensive, waterproof casing and is, therefore,unaffected by water, moisture, dampness, or atmospheric conditions, isstructurally rugged, will not tend to come apart or be otherwise damagedthrough handling and storage prior to use, may be readily andconveniently'positioned upon a railway track or other surface forsignal-giving detonation, will be positively and quickly hurled free ofthe track surface by the force of its own explosion upon detonationwithout damaging the track surface, and is otherwise highly efiicient inthe performance of its intended functions.

It will further be evident that, by the present invention, I have alsoprovided a method for the manufacture of detonable explosives, such asrailway track torpedoes and the like, which is exceptionally efficient,unusually economical, and simple.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of thetorpedo may be made and substituted for those herein shown and describedwithout departing from the nature and principles of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is,

1. As a new article of manufacture, a tracktorpedo including a body ofdetonable material inv preformed hard tablet shape having a channelopening upon its under face and extending longitudinally thereacross, anelongated mounting-strap having an intermediate portion adapted forlengthwise non-cohesive disposition in said channel with its under facesubstantially flush with the under face of said body and restrained fromtransverse movement relatively to said body by the walls of saidchannel, and means for retaining said strap-portion in said channel.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a tracktorpedo including a body ofdetonable material in preformed hard tablet shape having a channelopening upon its under face and extending longitudinally thereacross, anelongated mounting-strap having an intermediate portion adapted forlengthwise non-cohesive disposition in said channel with its under facesubstantially flush with 'the under face of said body and restrainedfrom transverse movement relatively to said body by the walls of saidchannel, and a section of sheet material wrapped around said body andsaid intermediate strap portion for retaining the strap portion in saidchannel.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a tracktorpedo including a body ofdetonable material in preformed hard tablet shape having a channelopening upon its under face and extending longitudinally thereacross, adisruptable casing comprising a sheet of flexible material entirelyenclosing said body, an elongated mountingstrap having an intermediateportion adapted for lengthwise non-cohesive disposition upon saidencased body and in said channel with its under body and intermediatestrap portion for retaining the strap portion in said channel.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a tracktorpedo comprising a body ofa detonable material preformed as a hard tablet of cylindro segmentalshape having a channel opening upon its under face and extendinglongitudinally thereacross, a first flexible combustible wrapperadhesively disposed snugly about and entirely enclosing said body, anelongated pliable mountingstrap having an intermediate portion adaptedfor lengthwise non-cohesive disposition upon the encased body and insaid channel with its under face substantially flush with the under faceof the tablet and restrained from transverse movement relatively to theencased body by the walls of said channel, and a second flexiblecombustible wrapper secured bandwise about the first wrapper and oversaid intermediate strap portion for securing the strap portion to theencased body.

LOUIE A. SHERMAN.

